Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Scientific justification required

The IACUC chair should stand firmly with the decision of the IACUC and Attending Veterinarian (AV). The Principal Investigator did not present any scientific evidence to support her request to house the primates individually during quarantine. Furthermore, she is relatively new to the use of primates in research and may not have as much experience as the IACUC and AV regarding the amount of stress primates experience during shipping and quarantine. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states, “If it is necessary to house animals singly – for example, when justified for experimental purposes, for provision of veterinary care, or for incompatible animals – this arrangement should be for the shortest duration possible”¹. The Animal Welfare act states, “Social grouping. The environmental enhancement plan must include specific provisions to address the social needs of nonhuman primates of species known to exist in social groups in nature. Such provisions must be in accordance with currently accepted professional standards, as cited in appropriate professional journals or reference guides, and as directed by the attending veterinarian”². The decision of the IACUC and AV to continue pair-housing during quarantine is in compliance with these guidelines. The IACUC could suggest to Wright that she support any future requests for single housing with scientific data (such as corticosteroid levels) comparing primates housed in social groups or pairs during quarantine and then separated afterwards with primates housed individually during quarantine.

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